Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-14
SWORD SKILL.
rzr KYzu currrye crxsrER " rHs
pAST.
How Dtxierously the Natives OF Inais
las6le the sharp, Curved
Blades.
rEnglIsh Mcdaniel.

c;meters of extra hard steel, and the
keen weapons OF highly finished durs-
bility CAME to India with those mighty
conquerors of the East, the NOLAN
medans, whose descendants under the
) victorious and corresponding British
nile can no longer follow the craft, dis
arming being the vailingrcgimc. Inc
comparaiiyely few sword blades Of ster-
ling quality nowadays are only to DC
found in the palaces o. loyal princes
most OF them heirlooms in their ar
molies. Before the great mutiny every
native. even mental servants, carried
sword the peasant at his plow wore
The weapon of defence; so did the
harmless wanderer in search OF employ
and the black soldier on short leave.
II was national appen1ase, due to
the unsettled state of popular feelings
and lawless inclinations. The excited
Moslem printed and shouted the
oroat text of the false prophet,
1.-THE Sword is the Key OF Heaven
and He'll" while the quiet Hindooo
trcouented midnight meetings and
brought his teghar, or village sabre, to
a razor edge. The quiet dweller in
England will scarcely believe the prodi-
pies performed in sworl-cutting by
these coarse, Unlocking bits OF curved
metal. costing no more than two shll-
linps. The Englishman can excel IN
everything if lie chooses to master the
object. Not less than half dozen;
perhaps even dozen, have attained
sucb workmanship with the Oriental
wearon as to be acknowledged cham
MONS. the title of "master OF the
sword" being bestowed on them by
universal consent.
I had shot numerous wild beasts
when was told by an expert that my
hunting education was very deficient,
as | could not handle cimeter to stop
nv game. / was told to exercise con-
tinually on pillar of soft clay, and thus
acquire the drawing cut at the proper
part Of the blade then on o pillar
loosely stuffed with cotton; then on
newly.killed wildcat or jackal, kneaded
previous to the practice by the
feet of o heavy man till the
carcass became loose, soft mass {;
then on q great pond carp, a fish
clad with heavy, horny scales like
elastic mail, considered an Al feat to
test man and sword. My first trial at
This experiment resulted in a triple
fracture of the good blade, sundry
scales flying in the air uncut, only dis
lodged then the artistic tour de force
at paper cones placed on table and
muslin thrown up to height-all
manner of strange and difficult tasks
which. being only ornamental, | even
tnally forsook for the useful and more
easy decapitation of fierce quad
rpeds, beginning with wounded
Wild hog Of full growth. and on essay
ing the sloping stroke behind the ear,
sweeping of the head nearly, that i'm
portant part dropping between the fore
feet Not long before / had seen q
bold young Ghoorka princeling dis
mount from his elephant, leaving it
standing to await his return, and follow
on foot alone an immense boar he had
wounded with his rifle. On nearing the
powerful brute it champed its foamy
tusks to charge. He drew his kookree
or nepaulse sword, and, as it sprang at
him. the blade was buried across piggy's
back, all but severing him in two parts.
Perhaps readers will not credit my
statement of village peasants, with Il
sword and shield, attacking and slash
ing a full. grown tiger when one OF
these powerful animals has strayed
from the forest into their fields. Yet L
have often known such encounters, a
man or two always killed and several
wounded, the tigers skin spoil
ed, too, by the long, deep
cuts of their teghars. | saw cham
pion swordsman, native soldier,
who went into the rosebushes alone
with no other weapon-shield on
shoulder. His cuts were mastery; but
the bold man was soon struck down and
severely mauled. Acrowd came to the
rescue and shot the beast the hero
recovered. "The manly weapon Is
its designation. In their party fights
each side would swear that no other
deadly arm should be used. |
accordingly witnessed one of these
combats. Swordsmen, shield on
arm, in twos and threes, came running
TO the scene of quarrel-a cows tres
pass. 1t was an exciting event. Clans
men were continually arriving, and ev.
cry man selected his foe. 1t was grand
sword play. The head, legs, and arms
seemed to be the chief points OF attack.
Being British subject, passing through
an independent State, l was obliged to
cellop of as fast as my horse could g.
at tie commencement OF this battle.
At the same time and place, near my
camp, two brothers fought duel about
land. One was killed, the other wei
s,ashed. In two or three days | passel
by battle royal. The King Of Dude
, troops were besieging some refractory
land owners who refused to pay rents
r Heavy cannon were booming aroun
: and muskotry cracking the villas
. swordsman and feudsl retainers, Jude
, cover of night, made many DARN.
, sally, and left the print OF their teghar
I on Moslem limbs. / saw blood-staine'
{ bodies on rude cots being carried AVA
{ to their homes. The unequal struggl
, had already lasted three days. Tha
) tough and stubborn peasantry conl'
{ boast that in long years they had neve
t once been deieated-no. not even b.
regular troops.
: Among some military trophies | ono
saw very rude, rusty teghar-locall,
;. worth shilling-which had clearly de
, capita.ed raw recruit, severing coat
9 collar, brass buckle, and caste necklac
S of hard enamel beads. The nimble vii
lage rebel had sprung on the sepo.
i from ambush while trimming his flint
/. lock after misfre. This and all tn
$ low priced teghars and tulwars are o
n very soft metal, capable of being ben
n and Strengthened across the blade
= while the arch or cutting portion, witt
J. razor edge. offers immense RESISTANCE
s in the hands OF an expert, who, be
IS hind his shield, can watch and measur
his opportunity. Only the straigh
thrust of British bayonets or drago
blades can reach them.
The metal and finish OF cutting arm
IS improve when We enter North India
. Hard steelof fine temperand highwork
If manship used to be common until tw
II Sikh wars and the great mutiny abolish
u ed the demand for such deadly wares
% The sk,lful Mohammedan craftsma